Gained Weight During Lockdown? You’re Not Alone!

A recent survey by King’s College London and Ipsos MORI of over 2000 people asked the question above and the results showed 48% of respondents reported gaining weight during lockdown. Also, 29% say they have drunk more alcohol than they usual do.

With the added stress and uncertainly that a global pandemic brings and most of us spending more time at home than usual, it comes as no surprise that many of us have put on a few pounds. While we need to show ourselves some compassion during these stressful times, if you find that your weight is still creeping up, here are a few Bold Street Slimming top tips for getting back on track.

Stick to Consistent Meal Times

Have three meals each day; breakfast, lunch and dinner and no snacks. Just because we are closer to our kitchens, doesn’t mean we should pop in there every couple of hours and reach for high calorie food. Make a meal plan, know what you are going to eat and when and stick to it. A bit of normality can really help us feel in control and get back on track with our weight loss goals.

Get Active

A closed gym or local swimming pool is not an excuse to skip the exercise routine. There are many things you can do at and around home to keep active. In fact, during the first few months of lockdown, home fitness equipment sales sky-rocketed, with consumers buying kettlebells, stationary bikes and treadmills. However, you don’t need fancy equipment to get fit. If you have not done any physical activity for a while, start with a 30 minute walk 3 times per week and build up from there. Or if you are already working out and want to up the pace, choose a High Intensity (HIT) workout, which is a great fat burner. You Tube is a good place to find beginner HIT workouts.

What can you add to your diet?

Instead of focusing on removing food items from your diet, consider what you can add to it. Protein is a great choice, it fills you up and reduces the hunger hormone, ghrelin. Good sources of protein include chicken, turkey, eggs, beans, legumes and fish. Aim to eat a protein source with each meal.

Fibre

Ensure you are eating enough fibre, aim for around 25g per day for women and 30g for men. It fills you up and keeps your digestive system healthy. Choose from porridge oats, wholemeal/wholegrain bread, wholewheat pasta, vegetables such as broccoli, sweetcorn and carrots and also fruit, for example, berries, apples, pears and oranges.

And remember, consistency is key!